I Wander

Travel Blog, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

Destinations

The Perfect Itinerary for Iran – Essential Persia in 9 Days

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For a country of its size, Iran offers a plehora of things to see and do – especially if you love architecture as well as the great outdoors – that it’s probably hard to compartmentalize the country into a short one or two week stretch. Boasting some of the most beautiful cities, atmospheric desert towns, intricately constructed buildings as well as unreal landscapes, Iran is an eye-opening place and definitely has something for everyone.

The classic travel route for Iran is the one that stretches from Tehran to Shiraz, covering other cities such as Kashan, Esfahan and Yazd in between. Given that these cities are well connected, there’s little need to back track so you can either start in the north in Tehran or down south in Shiraz. This itinerary aims to show how you can cover these cities in Iran, starting from Tehran, but you can easily reverse this.

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The Alternative Weekend Itinerary for Johor Bahru (2019 Update)

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Johor Bahru in the southernmost state in Malaysia is just a causeway bridge away from Singapore annd as such, is heavily familiar to most Singaporeans. As a popular weekend getaway for shopping, food and leisure; Johor Bahru offers a cheaper alternative to the higher cost of living in Singapore. If like me you have been to this city several times and in need of some fresh ideas of things to do in Johor Bahru, check out this easy to follow itinerary that you can do during a weekend.

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The Perfect Itinerary for Seoul, Busan & Gyeongju (2019) – One Week South Korea Travel Guide

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South Korea has become somewhat of a rising star in the tourism scene in recent years owing in part to the proliferation of Korean TV shows and pop music. The cities of Seoul and Busan undoubtedly appeal to folks who like seeing pretty and cute things and it’s probably not surprising that the visitor demographics here dis-proportionally lean towards females. If you are thinking of visiting South Korea and would like to have a practical itinerary to cover both Seoul and Busan, allot at least 5 or 6 days. If you are also visiting Jeju, you’ll need to add 2 or 3 more.

The two major cities of Seoul and Busan are the most intuitive places to explore during a trip to South Korea – Seoul for its cosmopolitan vibe and traditional culture and Busan for its seaside chic. This travel guide aims to show you how these cities can be done in as little as a week.

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Guide to the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo – How to Book Cheapest Tickets

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The famous Robot Restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku has quickly risen to be one of the quintessential experiences when visiting the Japanese capital. A microcosm of what foreigners expect from modern Japanese entertainment, the 1.5 hour show is full of things bizarre and distinctly Japanese, like what one would expect to jump out from a comic book.

Despite the name, robots only make up a tiny part of the Robot Restaurant. The show is a mix of mythical creatures, Moulin Rouge-style dancing, Japanese festival imagery as well as religious folklore.

This guide aims to show you what to expect from the Robot Restaurant without giving too much of the show away, tips on how to get there as well as where to find the cheapest tickets available for the Robot Restaurant (hint: buying direct is actually more expensive!).

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The Perfect Itinerary for Saitama, Gunma & Niigata – Northward Golden Route With JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata area)

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Located immediately north of Tokyo, the three prefectures of Saitama, Gunma and Niigata are quite possibly one of the most overlooked areas of Japan. Well-connected from Tokyo via the shinkansen and local trains, this region is brimming with atmospheric medieval towns, whimsical theme parks as well as venues for thrilling outdoor activities. 

Through the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area), it is very much possible to get here in just an hour as with the case for Saitama, or around two hours for Niigata. Within that short span of time, the landscape outside shifts from concrete buildings to alpine villages, sulfuric hot springs and deep gorges. This region is known as one of Japan’s agricultural baskets and the local produce is prized all over the country. Recently, I managed to visit the three prefectures of Niigata, Saitama and Gunma thanks to an invitation from the tourism boards of these prefectures. It was an eye-opening experience as I did not know much about this region until this particular visit.

If you are looking for some fresh ideas on places to visit from Tokyo that’s away from the maddening crowd but not too far from Tokyo itself, this region is a compelling choice. This travel guide and suggested itinerary for Saitama, Gunma and Niigata shows you how to do the trip with the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) in as short as 5 days and runs through a variety of activities including historic towns, adventure sports, temples as well as compelling food to try.

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Things to Do in Chiang Rai – Why You Should Visit Thailand’s Northernmost City

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Chiang Rai. Often playing second fiddle to its more vibrant neighbors down south, the city of Chiang Rai is perhaps well-known to most as a pitstop for an attraction or two or as a gateway to some national parks in Northern Thailand. I visited this city recently as a weekend trip and found it a worthwhile destination in its own right, with plenty of attractions to keep one busy especially with a duration of just two days. Here are my suggestions of places you can visit in this city:

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The Perfect Itinerary for Banda Aceh and Sabang, Pulau Weh in Indonesia

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Traveling in and around Banda Aceh, in Sumatra’s northern tip, is an eye-opening experience. The place is a manifestation of the indomitable resilience of the human spirit, with the city having been ravaged by the tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean in 2004. This corner of Indonesia is not frequently visited despite its attractive coastal location. This has been the case even prior to the tsunami. Those who make the effort to come here are often rewarded by turquoise colored waters, some seriously grand buildings and monuments as well as some of the more unique tourist attractions that one can find in a city. Banda Aceh is definitely worth a short weekend trip and in this guide, I’ve put up my suggestions for a one day or two day itinerary that you can easily follow. My decision to visit Banda Aceh wasn’t a spontaneous one. I have been curious about this far corner of Indonesia for a long time now and finally booked a trip when an opportunity came up.

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The Perfect Short Itinerary for Manila and Cebu (2019)

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Most visitors to the Philippines are likely to end up in one of the paradise islands of the archipelago for a beach getaway but those who spend more than the requisite transit time in the two largest urban centers, Manila and Cebu, are likely to discover a treasure trove of historic and cultural sights that have unfortunately taken a backseat. This easy-to-follow short itinerary for Manila and Cebu in the Philippines aims to introduce first-timers to the best things to do in the capital as well as the queen city of the south as destinations in their own right. In recent years, Filipino food has gained prominence in the international culinary scene and this has increased the foodie factor of both cities, adding another great reason to visit.

Also check out more tips for traveling to the Philippines.

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